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Meet ONU’s new president and first ladyDaniel A. DiBiasio became the 11th president of Ohio Northern University, starting work on Aug. 1. He and first lady Chris Burns-DiBiasio come to Ada from Wilmington College.

Residence Life updates

Stambaugh back in service for incoming students

Campus housing fees now include use of washers and dryers – no coins required.

Semesters come to ONUThis fall ONU moves to a semester schedule, which puts ONU students on a schedule similar to most other universities. For new students, the transition should be seamless. Students enrolled under the quarter system will continue to work toward graduation requirements using course substitutions and waivers as necessary. Every student will have an individualized transition advising plan to ensure that all students who are on track to graduate by a specific date in the quarter system will still be able to do so on the semester system.

New general education requirements introducedONU’s general education requirements are designed to provide all students with a well-rounded education and opportunity to develop, as the University’s mission statement says, “into self-reliant men and women open to dealing with the contemporary world, actively involved in their learning, capable of clear and logical thinking and sensitive to the higher values of truth, beauty and goodness.”

The new general education requirements increase the options for students. Four courses are required: the first semester Transition Experience, the first-year Writing Seminar, the sophomore or junior year Extra-disciplinary Seminar and the senior Capstone.

AT&T cell tower now in serviceWith the construction of a new AT&T cell phone tower on campus, students, faculty, staff and the community have another choice for wireless phone service. Cell phone and texting service is currently operational, while additional services such as video, picture and some other smart phone features will come with an upgrade due approximately Sept. 1.

Registrar offers lobby kiosk to speed serviceIn the lobby of Lehr Memorial, and just outside the registrar’s office, is a new kiosk with two computers. Students can use the computers for online transactions with the registrar’s office such to bill paying, rescheduling, or adding or dropping a class.

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering EducationThe T.J. Smull College of Engineering is offering a new degree in engineering education, a first in Ohio and one of the first in the U.S. The degree will prepare graduates to become licensed secondary math teachers with a specialized perspective in engineering.

Academics

"Find a balance. Work hard, but have fun too. Make friends. Get involved on campus. Just don't get so involved that you neglect your work. It is to your advantage to know your professors and for them to know you. Go to class and make sure to see each of your professors during their office hours no later than the fifth class meeting. Come with two or three questions to start the conversation. You might want to discuss a course assignment or topic, find out what interests your professor has, or explore ways to improve your résumé for job placement or graduate school. Inform the professor prior to your class absence, especially if you are not in class due to a University-sponsored activity (sports, music, etc.). Get the notes from a fellow student. After you have seen the notes, confirm with the professor any assignments or deadlines so that you are best informed of what you missed."

Paul LogsdonDirector of Hetrick Memorial Library

"Heterick Memorial Library offers excellent academic resources: the Communication Skills Center; Wintzer Music Media Lab; OhioLINK access to more than 45.3 million library items from 85 state institutions; Inter Library Loans; audio visual equipment; reference databases; periodicals; individual and group study carrels with power and network connections; and two computer classrooms. For more information, contact the library at x2181 or visit the library website at www.onu.edu/library. Don’t forget to bring your ID card – you’ll need it for a variety of transactions."

More tips:

Choose a study spot: A quiet, well-lit place where you can concentrate is essential. Try academic buildings and the library.

Utilize your adviser: Not only a good resource for classes, your adviser can help you decide on a career path and keep you on track academically.

Find a mentor: Upper-class students in your major are excellent sources of advice on classes and job options in your field.

Get organized early: A semester canbe hectic if you don’t stay organized from the start. Make an academic game plan and stick to it. Wasted time is the culprit of many students.

Residence Life

Justin CourtneyDirector of residence life

"Living on campus is a wonderful part of life at ONU and will assist you in growing as a person. Take time to meet new people and experience new things. The greatest moments of college are the times spent laughing, eating, studying and hanging with your new neighbors. Resident assistants (RAs) are peers on your floor that can help with your transition and often times serve as professional, personal and spiritual mentors. Make sure you get involved on campus! Talk to your RAs, your professors and your peers. Be sure to look for opportunities to participate in organizations and student events. Most importantly, go to class! You are at ONU for your education and future, so invest in your journey!"

Student Life

Adriane Thompson-BradshawDean of Students

"Be sure to participate in the orientation activities planned for your first few days on campus. Although some may seem silly, or you may want to use the time to settle into your room, these activities are designed to help you meet new people and connect to ONU. Any experience that makes you feel more at home will prove valuable as you adjust to college life. The same is true for getting involved with campus organizations and events. Avoid the temptation to go home every weekend. Choose to stay on campus and participate in social activities. You will enjoy your college experience all the more if you allow yourself to connect to the campus and its people."

"College is a clean slate, an unpainted canvas just waiting for you to make it your own. Remember these tips throughout your college career and your life will run smoothly. Be yourself! Respect your own beliefs and boundaries and the boundaries and beliefs of others. This will generate a reputation of integrity and respect. Being yourself means knowing who you are and respecting your core values. Get Involved! Ask any college student to give advice about college and more than likely they will reply by saying, “get involved!” Now, that does not mean join every organization insight. Joining a handful of groups that you have a great interest in will keep you involved and help you feel connected on campus. Prioritize! As tempting as it is to try to hang out with friends all the time, in order to have fun you do need to prioritize your time in college. People attend college in order to learn, so make sure you get your homework and studying before hanging out with friends. Try something new! Don’t be afraid to stretch your boundaries a little and broaden your horizons. There are so many opportunities that will come along in college. Don’t be afraid to take them!"

Health and Wellbeing

Dr. Michael SchaferDirector of counseling

"Coming to college for the first time is an exciting experience, but it can also be a time of difficult adjustments. Missing friends and family is normal, but if these feelings become overwhelming, you might be experiencing homesickness. Becoming involved in campus activities and talking with others about your feelings are two of the best ways to get back on track. If you are still having trouble, it might be time to talk to a professional from the Counseling Center. “Stressed out” is a term we often hear, but what does it really mean? Everyone experiences stress in varying degrees. When educational or environmental demands begin to exceed our coping resources, we end up feeling stressed out. Danger signs of being over-stressed include things like getting sick more often, not sleeping well at night, using drugs and alcohol, procrastination or a loss of interest in activities. The best defense is to be aware of your stress level and take charge before you become totally overwhelmed. You can do this by striving for a sense of balance in your life, eating healthy and exercising regularly. Many people benefit from relaxation techniques like stretching or deep breathing. Contact the Counseling Center at 2190 for more ideas on how you can deal with stress effectively."

More tips

Be wary of late-night eating. Midnight snacks are a nice diversion from studying, but they’re also a nice way to pack on the pounds. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day and avoid eating greasy food late at night.

Drink plenty of water, take power naps and wash your hands often. These basic health tasks can make all the difference when cold and flu season hits.

With so many people living together, dorms can be germ hotbeds. Staying well rested will help you combat stress and illness. Twenty-minute power naps are excellent ways to rejuvenate yourself.

Sick at school and your mom is at home? Visit the Health Center and take the time to feel better. Sometimes it’s hard to slow down for a cold, but chances are you’ll be sick much longer if you don’t.

Take time for yourself. Even if it’s just a few minutes, taking a pause every day will ensure you don’t get burnt out.

Technology

Robert BeerDirector of academic computer users services

"Being successful in college takes work, but remember to relax and enjoy the years ahead. College is a great time and experience as you begin to discover and mold yourself into the man or woman you want to be. Make the next four (or six years depending on your major) the best years of your life! Be aware of social engineering in the form of e-mail scams and phishing. E-mails and links that look legitimate can be used as a means to get your personal information. These are things to look for in e-mails that indicate social engineering:

The sender does not know you. For example, the e-mail starts with “Dear Customer.” Any legitimate business that has a relationship with you will know you by name.

There is a claim of some action either good or bad, like a notice that you have won a $1,000,000 prize or your account will be deactivated in 7 days.

The sender appears to be legitimate but is really rather anonymous, such as IT staff or EduWebmail. Any legitimate IT communication will come from a staff member whose name the department will recognize.

Requests for personal information, username and password, birth date or social security number.

The “sender” and “reply to” addresses aren’t the same

More tips

Watch what you post. ONU has a variety of security precautions, but ultimately you’re responsible for the information you post or share online.

Check your campus e-mail frequently. The campus communicates largely by e-mail. Weather delays, closings and other campus highlights (student-l’s) will be sent directly to your account. This is also where you register for classes and check your grades. Be sure to delete unwanted messages to help the system run more efficiently.

Print responsibly. Every student is granted a University printing limit of 750 pages. You will be charged for any materials over this number. Make sure you need something before you print it, and recycle scrap pages.

Do not to enter their username and password into a site that is not associated with ONU. Users should not user their ONU passwords for other Internet sites or services.